Joint construction



March 13, 1945. W.'F. ASCHINGER JOINT CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 14, 1942 stresses of practical usages.

Patented Mar. 13, 1945 JOINT'CONSTRUCTION William F.

Aschinger, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Columbus Show Case-Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio a Application December 14, 1942, Serial No. 469,024

2 Claims This invention relates to .splice joints, having particular reference to improved means for uniting and retaining in securedassembled relationsnip a plurality of angularly disposed mem bers.

In certain of its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with an improvement in the frame construction of merchandise display cases. In such cases, use is made of a plurality of relatively angularly extending frame bars having interfitting endportions which are adapted to be rigidly united for the purpose of effecting the support of glass" or other panels. The mechanical arrangement of such framevbars results in three of such bars merging into a common joint, each of the bars being disposed in perpendicular relationship with respect to the remaining bars. Because of this situation, considerable difiiculty is encountered in providing 'asubstantialmeans for permanently uniting such joints, so that the same will not separate or weaken structurally when "subjected to the Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved joint construction between the overlapping and interfitting ends of a plurality of frame bars when such bars' are disposed in severe angular relationship with respect to each other.

It is another object of the invention to -provide an improved metallic splice member having an nulariy extending arms, each of which being oi dovetail cross sectional formation and received within correspondingly formed slots provided in the adjacent ends of angularly extending frame bars, the arms of said splice member being fastened to the contiguous portions of the frame bars to hold and maintain the latter in relatively.

secured order.

A further object of the invention resides in providing the metallic splice member with integral Webs or fins which are adapted to be disposed between the contiguous faces provided by the meeting ends of three or more converging frame bars, whereby to enhance the strength of the mechanical union between the adjoining frame bars and improve the external appearance of the completed joint.

For a further understanding of the invention,

reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one of the upper corners of a display case, with said bars constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the'splice member used in uniting the adjacent ends or the n-amebars; j.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of thesplice' member when viewed from the inner sidether'eo ff I Fig. 4 IS a similar view disclosing thesplice member actively positioned: j

Fig. 5 1s a vertical sectional viewfon the plane disclosed by the line V-V of Fig. 1"; V

Fig. 6 IS a horizontal sect onali-view taken through the joint construction'on the plane indicate'dsby the line Vii- V1 oi Fig.'l;

Fig. I is a detail sectional'view on the line V1i'-VII of Fig. 5;' i

Fig-"B is a View similar to'Fi'g. 7 but disclosing the top glass panel-of the display casein a'-piahe higher tnanthat of the corresponding panel shown in Fig.7; 4 r

Fig. 9 is a iragmentary' perspectiveview disclosing'the splice-receiving" end ofone of the name bars. 5 'Rererring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a merchandise display cas the same being provided with "frame bars lil foi-"the support-of glass panels ll. Sincethe present invention is concerned with the construction of the corner joints for suchframe bars, the drawing illustrates a single composite joint, particularly the oint used at one of the upper. corners of the case.

As indicated, the joint comprises, in each case, a vertical frame bar Illa, and horizontally extending bars lilb and We, each of the bars being disposed in appropriate perpendicular relationship with respect to each of the remaining bars. Each of the bars is longitudinally rabbeted at both sides to provide seats for the reception of the marginal edges of the panels II and clamping blocks l3 (Figs. 7 and 8), of a conventional nature, may be used for retaining the panels in n'rm engagement with such seats.

The ends of the frame bars are reversely beveled as at I4 in order that the ends of the oars may overlap the corresponding ends of adjacent bars, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and, as indicated in Fig. 9, each bar at the end thereof is provided with an inwardly disposed longitudi- .jacent ends and adapted for reception within the recesses or sockets [5 of the frame bars Illa, lb and Hlc, respectively. Said arms preferably are of dovetail cross sectional configuration in order that the same may be slidably inserted within the recesses or sockets l5 and will possess close-fitting engagement with the wall surfaces of said sockets. Each of the .arms is formed with transverse openings l8 whichreceive the countersunk heads of fastening screws l9, whereby each of said arms is firmly secured to its complemental frame bar.

In order to produce a'finished appearance and in addition, a strong mechanical construction,-

each of the splice members is, formed with integral web extensions 20, the latter occupying angular planes corresponding with the beveled faces 15 of the frame bars, the said extensions being positioned between said beveled faces in. order to protect the latter, to prevent splintering or roughnesson the part of the thin walled'edges of the beveled regions of said 'frame'ba'rs and to augment the mechanical strengthan'd to improve the external appearance of'the construction generally.

in view of the foregoing," it will be seen that the present invention provides "an improved splice or spline means for uniting thefmitered overlapping ends of show case frame bars or in other capacities wherein the frame bars extend in angular relation with re' spectto each other. The corner or joint construction is particularly adapted for frame bars composed of wood. However, other materials may be used, such as the moldable plas' tics or, in certain'instances, metal. The -construction is, of course, subject to considerable modification without departin from the fundamental features of the invention. For instance, inFig. 8, the horizontal upper glass panel Ha is disposed in a. plane above that occupied by the corresponding panel in the construction disclosed in Fig.7. Q'ftemin show case design, it is desirable that the upper surface of the top glass panel be above the plane of the topsurface of the supsaid bars having overlapping mitered ends, the

' inner side of each of said bars contiguous to the end thereof being formed with a longitudinally extending socket, an externally concealed metallic splice composed of three integrally united arms, said arms being receivable within the sockets of said bars and disposedin planes corresponding to those of the bars, removable fastening means for precluding relative movement between said bars and splice arms, and integral web extensions formed with said splice member, said extensions being disposed between the mitered overlapping ends of said frame bars.

2. Joint construction comprising three bars, each of said bars being disposed in perpendicular relationship with respect to the remaining bars, said bars having overlapping mitered ends, the inner side of each of said bars contiguous to the end thereof being formed with a longitudinally extending socket, a metallic splice composed of three integrally united arms, said arms being receivable within the sockets of said bars and dis posed in planes corresponding to those of the bars, removable fastening means for precluding relative movement between said bars and splice' arms, each of said arms being of dovetailed transverse configuration in conformity with the same configuration of said sockets, "and integral web extensions formed with said splice member, said extensions being disposed between the 'mitered overlapping ends of said frame bar's.

WILLIAM F. ASCHKINGER. 

